Fireproof flooring



(No Model.) 2 Sheets--hee'I 1. T. J. FOSTER. PIREPROOP FLOORING.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

T. J. FOSTER'. .PIREPROOF FLOORING.

No. 595,769. Patented D'eo.21,189'7.

9 TymwJ/-afrf/f. .24 y CE1-#Wmv @Km- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. FOSTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FIREPROOF FLOORING.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,769, dated December 21 1897.

Application filed February 10, 1896. Serial No. 578,712. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, THOMAS J. FOSTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fireproof Flooring, which is fully set forth in the following specification', reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective of a portion of a floor constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the lines 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the devices adapted to fasten the channel-irons to the bottom of the girders. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective of a modification of the construction shown in the preceding figures. Fig. 6 is a perspective of still another modification.

My invention relates to reproof floorings, and has for its object to construct a flooring which shall be perfectly reproof, economical to put up, durable, and sufficiently strong for the purposes desired.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A represents I beams or girders of the usual construction, each comprising a bottom double flange a., a top double ange a', and a connecting-web a2. At right angles to the girders A and to the bottom flanges ct thereof I attach at suitable intervals, in a manner presently to be described, the channel-irons B, each of which comprises the upper and lower flanges h h', respectively, connected by the web b2. It will be observed from Figs. l and 3 that the said channel-irons B are small in cross-section compared to the girders A, from which they are supported. To fasten the channelirons to the under sides of the girders A, I employ a clip c of the form particularly shown in Fig. 4, the rectangularly-disposed portions of which, c, c, and c2, form three sides of a square, the fourth side of which is partially closed by the lug or projection c3, leaving an interior space c4, connected with the outside by the opening or mouth o5. The interior space c4 is adapted to receive the upper fiange h of the channel-iron B insuch manner that the flange o rests upon and is supported by the projection c3. The clip C itself is supported from the lower flange a of the girder A by the key or wedge D, the small end of which d bears upon the flange a, while the large end d bears upon the upper surface of the channel-iron. By the employment of this simpledevice it is apparent that the channelirons may be securely and permanently attached to the lower iianges of the girders.

It is obvious that I-beams or T-beams may be employed in place of the channel-irons B. In such case there will be a flange h on either side of the body of the beam, and the clip C will be correspondingly modified to adapt it to such double iange in place of the single one shown.

. Over the upper surfaces of the channelirons B, I suspend the wire-netting E, allowing the same to curve or sag downward between the channel-irons, as shown in Figs. l and 2. This netting is of a comparatively coarse mesh. When the construction is thus far completed, I place underneath the netting and channel-irons a centering surface in the usual manner, upon which is spread a plastic composition which penetrates through the meshes of the nett-ing and forms the horizontal layer F, which upon drying will be rigidly secured through the netting and the channelirons to the girders A and will constitute the ceiling of the room below. The plastic material used to form the ceiling F should be of reproof composition, and while any such composition may be employed, that which I use in practice consists of a mixture of plaster-of-paris, cinders, and sawdust. I next protect the remaining surfaces of the girders A, excepting the upper surfaces thereof, with a layer of the said plastic composition, which hardens and forms a covering G upon the said surfaces of the girders A. Finally, upon the upper surfaces of the said girders A, I spread the wire-cloth II, which is of comparatively fine mesh. On top of the said wire-cloth, resting upon the girders and at right angles thereto, I arrange at suitable intervals the transverse wooden beams I I, as shown in Figs. l and 2. By the wedge-shaped spacing-blocks J, I space the 1cloth H downwardly from the beams I upon each side of and close to the girders A, while toward the center of the intervals between the girders I support the said wire-cloth from the beams A by the wires K. From this construction it results that the wirecloth I-I is held vin a iiat horizontal position IOO somewhat below the under surfaces of the beams I. Upon this wire-cloth I spread a layer L of the plastic composition above referred to, so that the same shall come up flush with the upper surfaces of the wooden crossbeams I.

W'hen the load upon the oor is to be considerable, I employ in place of the wooden beams I the iron beams I. (Shown in Fig. 5.) When I adopt this construction, I place transversely upon the beams I' the wooden strips M and iill up with the plastic composition to the upper surfaces of the said strips, whereby the strips are held firmly in place and serve for the attachment of the boards of the loor.

By a still further modification of my invention (illustrated in Fig. 6) I may tighten the wires K',corresponding to the wires Kin Figs. l and 2, to such an extent that the wire-cloth H will be arched upward into the form shown at H' in Fig. G. When this is the construction, it will be necessary to place a spacingblock J under the beam I at the point Where the wires cross the same to prevent the wirecloth I-I from being drawn up into contact with the said beam I. I eeonomize in the quantity of plastic material requisite and produce a structure which is as strong as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2,- owing to the arched form of the layer L in this modification.

When I employ the iron beams Il and the Wooden strips M, I Vmay attach the wires adapted to give the arched shape to the wirecloth H to the wooden strips M. This construction is illustrated in the case of the wires K2. (Shown in Fig.

It will thus be seen that I form a double iiooring, comprising a ceiling for the under story and a base upon which can be laid the door-boards of the upper story, in which flooring all of the material subject to being affected by heat is protected by surrounding tireproof composition save the upper surfaces of the beams I or the strips M, to which the floor-boards are to be nailed. Moreover, it is apparent that the method of attachment of the channel-irons to the girders is simple and secure and that the attachment of the ceilinglayer F, through the Wire-netting E, to the saidchannehbars is efficient and economical. Finally the arrangement of the wire cloth H with reference to the beams I forms an advantageous surface upon which to spread the layer L.

IIaving thus described my invention and the various methods in which it can be carried out, what I claim, and desire to secure by By this construction Letters Patent, is-

l. In a :tireproof oorin g, the girders, A; the beams, B; clips adapted to attach the said beams to the lower surfaces of the girders, A; a wirenetting, E, suspended over the said beams, B; and a layer of plastic material, F, supported by the said netting and the said channel-irons.

2. Inaflreprooffiooring,thegirders,A; the beams, B; clips, C, adapted to engage with the upper fiange of the beams, B; and means for attaching the clips to the lower flanges of the said girders, A.

3. In aireproof flooring, the girders, A; the channel-irons, B; the clips, C; and the wedges, D, constructed and arranged substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

4. In a iireproof iiooring, the girders A; a Wire-cloth, H, supported by and spread over the said girders continuously in both directions; transverse eontinuous beams laid upon the said girders and wire-cloth; and a layer of cementing material, L, filling in between wire-cloth, H, supported thereby; transverse beams supported by the said girders; the spacing-blocks, J; wires arranged to support those portions of the wire-cloth, H, between the girders; and a layer of cementing material lling in between the transverse beams, and supported by the said wire-cloth.

7. In a lreproof flooring, the girders, A; the wire-cloth, H, supported by the said girders; the transverse beams, I', and cross-strips, M; the supporting-wires, K2; and a layer1 of cementing material, L, iilling in between the beams, I', and strips, M, and supported by the said wire-cloth, H.

8. In atlreproof iiooring, the girders, A, the wire-cloth,H,supported therefrom,transversc beams resting upon the said girders; wires adapted to form a concave lower or arched surface, H', in the Wire-cloth, H; and alayer of cementing material, L, supported by the wire-cloth, I'I, and filling in betweenthe said transverse beams.

THOMAS J. FOSTER. Witnesses: 1

LOUISE SERAGE,

ALLAN A. MURRAY.

IOO

IIO 

